Receptacle



April 19, 1949.

M. 1.. LOCKHART RECEPTACLE Filed March 5, 1946 I 1 INVENTOR. Ma /5M1! Z. [wk/turf BYM- ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 19, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECEPTACLE Marshall L. Lockhart, Rutherford, N. J assignor to Becton, Dickinson & 00., Rutherford, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 5, 1946, Serial No. 652,044

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved receptacle primarily intended for the housing and display of units such as hypodermic needles.

It is an object of the invention to furnish a receptacle which will serve to properly inclose and protect a unit such as a hypodermic needle and, with which receptacle, units may readily be associated. Additionally these units mat -when so that one or more receptacles may be distributed as a unit.

An additional object is that of furnishing such an assembly of receptacles which, if they each contain units such as hypodermic needles'will in effect provide what might be termed a needle card for the packaging and mounting of any desired number of needles.

A still further object is that of providing a device of this type which may readily be manufactured largely by automatic machinery and methods so that the receptacle may be marketed at relatively nominal figures; the device, moreover, embodying a relatively rugged structure which will assure that the packaged unit reaches the ultimate consumer in proper condition.

With these and other objects in mind, reference isjhad to the attached sheet of drawings illusof a suitable plastic and is preferably polygonal in cross section. Integral with the body ID are arms I l extending at diametrically opposite points from the edge of the receptacle and parallel to the axis of the same. As illustrated, a pair of these arms extends from each of the ends of the receptacles. Projections are conveniently provided, extending from the inner arm faces at points adjacent their outer ends.

These projectionsas hereinafter brought outserve as latches or retaining structures; the arms I I embodying a certain amount of inherent resiliency such that the outer ends of the arms yieldingly resist separation. The distance between the outer arm ends should correspond to the diameter of a unit to be packaged or housed by the receptacle.

As shown especially in Fig. 5, a receptacle of this type is adapted to receive and retain a pair of needles used in conjunction with hypodermic syringes. These may include shank or cannula portions l3 terminating in a hub [4 having a relatively reduced portion I5 defined by an outer flange l8. As will be understood, these needles are adapted for detachable association with a syringe barrel. It will be observed that the distance between the arms ll adjacent an end of any receptacle should be substantially equal to the diameter of the hub l4 so that the latter may be accommodated between these arms. The v projections l2 being spaced beyond the end of the receptacle l0, they may enter the relatively reduced portion I5 of the needle assembly. The diameter of the receptacle ID will not be sufilciently great to permit an entrance of the hub l4 into the bore of the same.

Accordingly it is apparent that if-as is preferred-pairs of arms H extend from both ends of the receptacle ID, a pair of needles may be associated with each receptacle. as shown in Fig. 5, will have their bodies disposed within the bore of the receptacle and properly housed by the same against any danger of the point of the needle becoming damaged or forcibly engaging any contaminating surface. The hub 14 will bear against the end of the receptacle so that penetration of the assembly into the body, of the latter will be limited. The projections l2 will serve as latch elements in cooperation with the relatively reduced portion l5 of the assembly to retain the latter against accidental displacements. Therefore while the needle may readily be withdrawn by simply exerting an axial strain on the hub to cause the portion of the latter to move in camming engagement with the projections l2, the latter will retain the needle assembly against the likelihood of accidental detachment.

Preferably and as shown, a number of these receptacles are combined to provide what might be termed a card structure. Such combining These needles,

is effected by coupling them through bridging portions I1. Each of the latter may include relatively thin parts l8 and relatively enlarged central portions [9. Normally these bridging portions will incorporate adequate strength to prevent an accidental detachment of one receptacle from an adjacent receptacle. However, if such receptacles are axially displaced or rotated with respect to each other it will be found that the relatively reduced portions 18 will fracture, leaving what might be termed fin portions 20.

The latter may be reduced to a negligible factor by simply rubbing the finger or thumb against the surface of a receptacle. Thereupon it will be found that what remains of the bridging structure will fracture at points immediately adjacent or flush with the receptacle surface. Accordingly, it will be feasible to include any desired number of receptacles in a card assembly and to sell any desired number of these receptacles by simply severing them from the remainder of the assembly. While a part of the assembly or after remova1 therefrom, each individual receptacle will adequately house and protect the unit which it encloses.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically afore-noted are achieved. It is obvious that numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A receptacle including a hollow open-ended body and a pair of arms having substantially flat inner faces extending parallel to each other to the axis thereof and projecting beyond the end of said body at substantially diametrically opposite points, said arms defining between them an article receiving space.

2. A receptacle including a hollow open-ended body, a pair of arms extending parallel to the axis thereof and projecting beyond the end of said body at substantially diametrically opposite points, said arms defining between them an article receiving space and article latching means extending from the inner faces of and integral with said arms.

3. A receptacle including a hollow open-ended body, a pair of arms extending parallel to the axis thereof and projecting beyond the end of said body at substantially diametrically opposite points, said arms defining between them an article receiving space, said body being substantially rigid throughout its entire length, said arms yieldingly resisting separation adjacent their outer ends and article latching means extending from the inner faces of said arms at points adjacent their outer ends.

4. A receptacle including a hollow, open-ended, imperforate body, a pair of arms each substantially flat in cross section, extending parallel to the axis of said body and projecting beyond the end of the same at substantially diametrically opposite points, said arms defining between them an article receiving space, and projections integral with said arms and extending inwardly at points adjacent their outer ends, said arms yieldingly resisting separation and said projections providing means cooperative with an article received between the said arms to retain the latter against axial displacement with respect to said body.

5. A receptacle including a hollow, open-ended, imperforate body, polygonal in cross section and formed of transparent plastic material, a pair of arms each substantially fiat in cross section, extending parallel to the axis of said body and projecting beyond the end of the same at substantially diametrically opposite points, said arms defining between them an article receiving space, and projections integral with said arms and extending inwardly at points adjacent their outer ends, said arms yieldingly resisting separation and said projections providing means cooperative with an article received between the said arms to retain the latter against axial displacement with respect to said body.

6. A receptacle assembly including a plurality of imperforate, hollow, open-ended bodies, pairs of arms associated with each of said bodies and extending parallel to the axes thereof, said arms projecting beyond the ends of the bodies of which they are coextensive at substantially diametrically opposite points thereof, and defining between them article receiving spaces, bridging elements integral with said bodies and extending from the side walls of the same to unite adjacent receptacles and maintain the same in spaced relationship, and means whereby said bridging elements may be fractured to effect a separation of the receptacles from each other.

7. A receptacle assembly including a plurality of hollow, open ended bodies, bridging elements extending between the outer side faces of said bodies to connect the same, pairs of arms associated with each of said bodies and extending parallel to the axes thereof, said arms projecting beyond the ends of the bodies of which they are coextensive at substantially diametrically opposite points thereof, and defining between them article receiving spaces, and said bridging elements each including relatively enlarged central portions and reduced end portions connected to the outer faces of said body.

8. In combination, a receptacle for a pair of hypodermic needles each of which includes a cannula and a hub portion, said receptacle comprising a body having open ends, one each of said needles being adapted to have its hub portion bearing against the edge of said end with its cannula extending inwardly of said body, pairs of arms integral with the ends of said body and projecting beyond the same in spaced relationship, said arms being adapted to lie adjacent the outer faces of said hub portions and latching detents integral with said arms and extending inwardly adjacent the ends of the same, said detents being adapted to cooperate with hub surfaces to retain said needles in association with said receptacle.

MARSHALL L. LOCKHART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 930,406 McDonald Aug. 10, 1909 1,190,196 Schweinert et al. July 4, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,794 Great Britain 1908 

